Qin Xiaoran’s expression was grave. The old man was right—Xiao Qianyin’s potential was truly formidable. The fact that she had defeated her opponent just now without even using swordsmanship was enough to prove that her level was above that of an intermediate Sword Master. And at the time, her “sword” had not even been a sword at all, merely a strip of white silk.
“It seems I underestimated her as well. Xiao Qianyin has hidden herself far more deeply than we imagined.”
Ji Ce shook his head. It was the first time he had misjudged someone. A moment later, that bewitching smile returned to his face. But things were becoming more and more interesting, weren’t they?
The commotion here naturally startled the Lushan Academy headmaster and Marquis Dingguo, who had been conversing inside. The two stopped at the same time and immediately walked out of the room. Seeing the scene before him, Bei Gongdu instantly rushed to his granddaughter’s side and looked her up and down. “Yin’er, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Grandfather.” The young girl looked completely unconcerned.
Only then did he let out a breath of relief. On the other side, when the headmaster saw the gray-clothed old man, his eyes immediately widened. “Senior Brother, why have you come? Weren’t you in seclusion?”
“Junior Brother, of course I came out because my seclusion ended. The moment I came out, I ran into an interesting little girl.”
Hm? The headmaster followed the old man’s gaze and saw that it was Xiao Qianyin. Senior Brother liked this spoiled, willful good-for-nothing young lady?
“Headmaster, this marquis has already told you. What do you think? If there is no issue, please write the letter at once!”
“Lord Marquis, have you truly decided? Once she withdraws from Lushan Academy, she will become the laughingstock of the world. Miss Xiao has already…”
Before he finished speaking, the meaning within his words was self-evident. Lushan Academy was renowned throughout the four kingdoms, gathering many outstanding talents and famed scholars. People under heaven all flocked to it. If word spread that one had withdrawn from the academy, one would certainly be ridiculed.
“Enough nonsense!” Xiao Qianyin interrupted the headmaster just as he was about to continue. “This matter was decided by me. So what if I leave Lushan Academy? Do you really think the world cannot do without you? Don’t think too highly of yourselves. At the very least, I disdain it! I disdain remaining in Lushan Academy! Currying favor with the children of noble families while slighting commoner students—is this Lushan Academy’s principle of education? Hypocritical to the extreme. Rather than stay in such a hypocritical place, it’s better to leave early!”
When Bei Wuxuan heard this, he immediately felt that her courage was far too great. He had thought her bold enough for mocking him, but he had never expected her to dare say such things right in front of the headmaster. Even they, members of the imperial clan, would not dare speak like this.
Qin Xiaoran rubbed his nose. This girl truly did not know the immensity of heaven and earth. Did she know that by saying this, she would make herself everyone’s enemy?
Lushan Academy was not an ordinary academy. It taught swordsmanship, poetry and literature, rites and etiquette, music, riding, and archery. If commoners entered this place, they could soar smoothly in officialdom in the future. As for the children of powerful families and the imperial clan, needless to say, gaining Lushan Academy’s support would be greatly advantageous to them.
That was because Lushan Academy’s teachers were no ordinary people; they were all among the foremost talents of their respective schools. Emperor Qin Shi Huang employed Li Si of the Legalist school, and Legalism flourished without decline, while the other schools gradually withered. Later, Fusu changed the First Emperor’s policies, and the Hundred Schools rose once more, among which the Mohists, Confucians, Daoists, Legalists, Yin-Yang school, and physicians were the most prevalent. Most of Lushan Academy’s teachers came from these traditions, with all the great forces intertwined. To offend Lushan Academy was equivalent to offending the various schools of thought.
“You… how dare you! To actually say such things? You will pay the price for your words!”
The headmaster’s face turned livid with anger. Lushan Academy was treated with great respect throughout the four kingdoms. When had anyone ever dared accuse it like this?